The Bowie Baysox and the Baltimore Orioles have announced the Baysox coaching staff for the 2012 season. Baltimore native Gary Kendall returns for his second season as manager and is joined by Field Coach Denny Hocking, Pitching Coach Kennie Steenstra and Athletic Trainer Aaron Scott. All four are holdovers from the 2011 staff.

Kendall returns for his second season with the Baysox and begins his 13th season in the Orioles organization after leading the team to a 75-66 record and a near playoff miss last season. Prior to joining the Baysox, Kendall spent three seasons managing the class Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds. Kendall began his coaching career with the Orioles as the Field Coach for the Bluefield Orioles (2000-2001) and the IronBirds (2002-2003) before making his managerial debut with Bluefield in 2004. After that season he spent three years as the manager for class Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds (2005-2007). Kendall graduated from Sparrows Point High School in Baltimore and played at the Community College of Baltimore and Atlantic Christian College.

Hocking enters his second year as Field Coach for the Baysox and his third year coaching in the Orioles organization. Last season, Baysox hitters combined for a .256 average and stole 161 bases. Before joining the Baysox, he spent one season as the Field Coach for the class Single-A Frederick Keys. Originally a 52nd round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins, Hocking played 13 seasons in the big leagues with Minnesota (1993-2003), the Colorado Rockies (2004) and the Kansas City Royals (2005).

Steenstra returns for his third season in Bowie and eighth season in the Orioles organization. Under his tutelage last season, Baysox pitchers finished third in the Eastern League with a 3.65 ERA and allowed the second fewest total hits. Steenstra was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 1992 First Year Player Draft and made his major league debut in Chicago on May 21, 1998. He pitched 11 years professionally, spending seven years in the Cubs organization before playing for the Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Cardinals and Arizona Diamondback organizations. In 2002, he pitched in six games for the Orioles class Triple-A affiliate in Rochester.

Rounding out the Baysox coaching staff is Athletic Trainer Aaron Scott, who returns to the team for his second season. Scott began his coaching career as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2004, spent a year as the Orioles Florida Trainer (2005), before stops as the Athletic Trainer for the Bluefield Orioles (2006), Aberdeen Ironbirds (2007-2008) and Delmarva Shorebirds (2009-2010).

Baysox Baseball – We’ll Knock Your ‘Sox Off. The Baysox open their 20th season at Prince George’s Stadium Thursday, April 5 against the Harrisburg Senators at 7:05 p.m. To keep up with Baysox news during the offseason, follow the Baysox on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BowieBaysox or visit www.baysox.com.